You gotta hand it to the Autobots this episode – they’re being proactive. The episode begins with the Autobots searching the planet for the Decepticons’ base. And while that seems like an almost insurmountably large task for a team of about a dozen, it’s better than episodes where the Autobots check out a carnival and happen to bump into the Decepticons who have devised a way to harvest carnival energy. That isn’t a real episode, but it seems like it could be. The episode begins with leader God Ginrai swimming around in the ocean, scaring a shark, then flying around telling his troops to keep looking. Pretty good plan!

Destruction! Destruction!

Too bad I turn into a car, not a boat.

The scene next shifts to Shuta, who’s driving around hoping to bump into the Decepticons. Over the radio, he hears God Ginrai explain that they believe the Decepticon base is most likely in the ocean. Yeah, it is, but how they figured that out is anyone’s guess. It’s based on exactly zero clues. Also, the ocean covers 75% of the planet, so their search radius just got a whole lot bigger.

Time to look into encrypted signals, dudes.

Shuta sort of does bump into a Decepticon. Technically a former Decepticon, Doubleclouder (who they usually just call Clouder). Clouder explains that when he transforms into his Autobot form, he can hear the same transmissions that they use! What?! He is able to transform from a vehicle into either an Autobot robot or a Decepticon bird. But that basically amounts to just having a different symbol on his chest, right? Nope! It comes with full membership privileges, sight unseen!

Pretty sneaky, Sis.

Clouder explains to Shuta that he’s abandoned the Decepticons and wants to show God Ginrai where the Decepticon base is. That’s convenient since that’s what the Autobots are up to this week. Meanwhile, Hydra flies overhead and sees them. But they somehow don’t take any notice of the Decepticon jet. He lands nearby and sneaks up in his human form to listen in. At least the Autobots don’t get it TOO easy this time.

For the glory of love…

Shuta isn’t sure whether he should trust Clouder so he decides to check out the information himself, first. If it’s right, he is excited to think of all the glory he will get. So Shuta has two motivations: to protect his leader from a possible ambush and to get a lot of accolades for himself. It’s like any screenwriter will tell you: load your character up with all sorts of conflicting motivations. Like when Bruce Willis destroyed Nakatomi Plaza to get rid of the bad guys AND because he had a grudge with the architect.

Nice shoulder pads.

Hydra reports to Lord Giga about Clouder’s betrayal but Giga isn’t too upset, because they can now turn it into a trap. Also, he’s really happy about how well he nailed his Steven Seagal cosplay.

A bad knock knock joke?

Clouder and Shuta swim down to the Decepticon base, easily pass some Seacon patrols and then things get dumb. Shuta hides behind some rocks and Clouder essentially rings a doorbell. They are then completely surprised when they are electrocuted and knocked unconscious. Even if the Decepticons weren’t expecting you, hiding behind some rocks by the door is a pretty terrible plan.

The gem at the tip of his widow’s peak really completes his look.

The Decepticons now have bait to lure Ginrai to them under their own terms. Giga needs to check with the blob of energy/Decepticon god Devil Z to make sure they should do the obvious.

Cute?

And so he and Lady Giga transform into Overlord and call the Autobots. Do these guys have each other’s phone numbers? Overlord reveals that they have Shuta as a hostage but insists on calling him a “cute little minion.” He does this at least three times this episode, using those exact words. It’s creepy. So… mission accomplished?

Good work, dumb dumb.

So why don’t all the Autobots go to rescue him? Well, first because Overlord said he’d kill Shuta if more showed up, but then, just to play it safe he sends the Decepticons to attack three different areas around the world to spread out the Autobot forces. Hydra points out that it’s a divide and conquer strategy and somehow everyone manages to not point and laugh at him for stating the obvious.

Spirit week at Decepticon HQ is awesome.

Meanwhile, Cancer is feeling glum. His sidekick, Browning, asks if he’s lost his spirit. This just makes Cancer yell at him in an exaggerated cartoon manner. They don’t get into it much here but it’s following up from last week when Cancer was devastated to see the Decepticons attack his home town. He’s verrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly coming to realize the Decepticons are pretty evil.

Punch that bird!

In a holding cell, Shuta wakes up and begins beating up Clouder who he believes helped trap him. Even though Godmasters like Shuta are usually far more powerful than everyone else, he pretty much just gets smacked around like a loser. It takes Overlord to stop him by pointing out that they’ve put BOTH of them in prison.

Why does a robot need to sit?

Overlord politely explains that while Clouder is really valuable, he’s betrayed them so he’ll die, too. This really clues Cancer in that the Decepticons are actually not the greatest dudes.

I honestly don’t know if this guy is a headmaster and a pretender or just one or neither.

Meanwhile, Metalhawk proudly tells Ginrai that they traced the Decepticons’ signal to their base. Grand Maximus points out that it was too easy to trace so it’s probably a trap. Well no shit, guys. They called you up to tell Ginrai to come get Shuta. Did you think they were just going to hand him over?

Remember when Germany re-divided?

Lightfoot calls in to update them on the Decepticons’ attack. They’re attacking Moscow, Geneva, and West Germany. The cartoon came out in 1988 and the wall came down just 2 years later in 1990. I guess you can’t blame the show for getting that detail wrong, but it IS supposed to be set in the future. They could have at least TRIED to be hopeful with the cities they picked.

He’s getting punished for this.

Ginrai has come a long way from being an idiot truck driver. He’s barking out orders as though he knows what he’s doing. This guy definitely has the most power but no one ever trained him in leadership or military strategy. Anyway, he sends the Autobots off to fight Decepticons, which we never see, and heads off to save Shuta himself.

Sure. Starting.

While this is going on, Clouder explains to Overlord that he left the Decepticons when Turtler left him for dead back on their attack on the Autobot base. Cancer wonders out loud if it’s true and Wilder says he’s full of crap. Bullhorn worries that Cancer might not want to be a Decepticon anymore. These poor, poor guys and their problems, amirite?

Like playing with cats on catnip.

God Ginrai swims down into the ocean (near Hawaii if it matters – it doesn’t). He is attacked by some Seacons but shrugs them off like bugs and enters the airlock to the Decepticon base.

No, your other right.

But what’s this? There are TWO tunnels! God Ginrai switches down to Super Ginrai and sends Godbomber to check out one of the tunnels. What luck to be able to be two robots.

A t-t-t-trap?!!

Super Ginrai immediately walks into Overlord who shows Shuta is held by King Poseidon elsewhere in the base. Far overmatched, Overlord demands he throws down his weapons or he will kill Shuta. Overlord is strangling Shuta this whole time. Oh, and it’s making Cancer uncomfortable. Overlord doesn’t notice any of this because he hasn’t been through proper human resources employee management. He should be able to tell when his employees aren’t satisfied.

Tummy tickle.

Instead of shooting Ginrai and being done with it, Overlord just punches him in the gut. Great thinking. I can see why Devil Z appointed this guy the leader.

And now our players will take a bow.

As things look worst for our players, Cancer shoots off one of King Poseidon’s (quite fragile) arms and frees Shuta. The other Decepticons are temporarily stunned by this development.

Not to put too fine a point on it.

Overlord is also stunned but Cancer points out that he’s sick and tired of them. He joined the Decepticons for power but not to be a killer. Gotta admit, this is a decent twist for a cartoon. The Decepticons have previously managed to alienate Sixknight and Clouder but Cancer is better developed than both of them. Not by much, admittedly. But some.

And other obvious things.

Before King Poseidon can kill Cancer, Godbomber shows up and shoots him down. Wilder and Bullhorn don’t agree with Cancer but they are legit friends and they tell Cancer to escape with Shuta and Godbomber before Overlord or King Poseidon can regroup. Shuta and Cancer free Clouder and then Shuta tells Godbomber to go find Ginrai so they can all escape together. The three spend their time blowing up those really weak Seacons that the Decepticons keep using for unknown reasons.

What did he do that was cowardly?

Godbomber finds and merges with Ginrai and Overlord calls it cowardly. Overlord is either a hypocrite (likely) or stupid (just as likely).

God Ginrai is the man.

God Ginrai declares he’s going to stop Overlord forever! He smashes him up a bunch and then doesn’t finish him off and instead leaves. God Ginrai must be forgetful.

What a pretty moon!

Ginrai, Shuta, Clouder and Cancer all swim to the surface. Oh, and Browning follows too even though Cancer doesn’t seem to notice. What a pal. Then they fly off into the night. Now that they know where the Decepticons live and they don’t have any hostages, it seems the Autobots have the upper hand.